Namco Bandai Gets Dragonball Rights in USA

American fans of Dragonball video games were in a little pinch until now, since Funmination's deal with Atari for distribution rights in North America will end this year. Out of the shadows steps up Namco Bandai Games, which has recently confirmed a deal with Funmination for publishing DB games from 2010 until late 2014.



Since I quit writing about and following the gaming industry as thoroughly as I have before (well, except DS JRPGs), I have no figures at hand regarding the amount of success or fail such games have in North America. Nevertheless, knowing that Namco Bandai is not a company to rush into shady deals, and knowing that the Dragonball anime franchise is not something cowboys joke about, I take it things will go pretty smooth from now on.

Well, until the deal officially takes shape next year, Namco Bandai Games America will start off by publishing the multiplatform Dragon Ball: Raging Blast (X360, PS3), Attack of the Sayians (Nintendo DS), and Revenge of King Piccolo (Wii), all these in 2009.

What can I say, I hope their business goes over nine thousand. Thanks ANN for the scoop.